2024 NFL mock draft: Where all 9 Ohio State Buckeyes prospects are projected to land
Which NFL teams could former Ohio State football players end up with?
As the NFL draft gets underway, players such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Mike Hall Jr. and Cade Stover will find out where they will start their professional careers.
Here are the best fits for the top Ohio State players in the NFL draft:
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals in first round
Harrison enters the NFL draft widely viewed as the top non-quarterback on the board.
After a illustrious collegiate career with Ohio State where he was the first receiver in school history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Harrison will likely be a plug-and-play starter wherever he ends up. Based on the current draft board, three quarterbacks should be drafted before Harrison: Southern California's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye.
If the Cardinals remain at the No. 4 spot in the draft, Harrison, a 6-foot-3, 209-pound All-American, should be an easy pick and one that could make an impact immediately.
DT Mike Hall Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers in second round
The Pittsburgh Steelers could have another former Ohio State defensive lineman on its roster.
After selecting Cameron Heyward with the No. 31 pick of the 2011 NFL draft, who turned into an All-Pro defensive tackle, the Steelers could take the same chance with Hall: the former third-team All-Big Ten defensive lineman, who left the Buckeyes after three seasons.
Hall, standing at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, recorded 45 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and 6 sacks through his collegiate career, but brings the track record of a typical Larry Johnson-trained defensive lineman with quick hands and a dominant bull rush at the line of scrimmage.
TE Cade Stover to the Washington Commanders in third round
Stover is one of the top all-around tight end prospects available in the 2024 NFL draft.
He was one of the most productive tight ends in Ohio State history, finishing 2023 as the Big Ten's Tight End of the Year and was a finalist for the Mackey Award. He had 576 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns on 41 catches: the most from an OSU tight end since John Frank in 1983.
Even with Brock Bowers and Ja'Tavion Sanders on the board, Stover could find significant playing time immediately given the right situation. And in Washington, Stover could find himself as the heir apparent to 33-year-old veteran Zach Ertz. He would also join an offense that includes another Ohio State success story in wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
LB Tommy Eichenberg to the New York Jets in fourth round
Tommy Eichenberg has experience leading Ohio State's defense. He enters the NFL draft with three years of starting experience including two seasons as a captain. He was a first-team All-Big Ten linebacker, was named as the conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and was a second-team All-American.
Eichenberg's lack of athleticism and limitations in pass coverage will make him fall to the third day of the draft. But for a team like the New York Jets, Eichenberg could be an effective, situational tackling machine who is Ohio State's first drafted linebacker since Baron Browning in 2021.
LB Steele Chambers to the Miami Dolphins in seventh round
Steele Chambers may not be the biggest linebacker on the board. But expect for an NFL team like the Miami Dolphins to take a flier on Chambers late Saturday.
The converted running back was one of Ohio State's most consistent tacklers in 2023, leading the team with 83, helped by speed, athleticism and his knowledge of playing on offense. Chambers' stature will make him fall to the third day of the draft, but a team like the Dolphins could be getting a defensive weapon that shines also in special teams based on his speed and agility.
S Josh Proctor to the Dallas Cowboys in seventh round
Josh Proctor had his best collegiate season when he needed it most.
In 2023, the sixth-year safety had 47 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss and an interception along with 8 pass deflections. With a combination of speed and tenacity in the defensive backfield, Proctor should be Ohio State's first safety drafted since Jordan Fuller in 2020.
With an Ohio State safety already on the roster in Malik Hooker, the Cowboys could be a good home for Proctor late in the 2024 draft.
G Matt Jones undrafted to the Cincinnati Bengals
Matt Jones' testing numbers at the NFL combine will keep him out of the NFL draft. But he will have a chance to make a roster as an undrafted free agent.
Jones' skills are useful at the next level with the ability to play each position on the interior of an offensive line, including center. Age will also be a factor for a player like Jones, who is tuning 25 in June. But a team with a track record for signing former Ohio State players, such as the Cincinnati Bengals, will likely take a chance on Jones.
WR Xavier Johnson undrafted to the New England Patriots
Xavier Johnson worked his way into playing time at Ohio State.
A former walk-on, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound athlete, spent time as a running back, slot receiver and a weapon on multiple special teams units. He score three collegiate touchdowns in some of the biggest moments for the Buckeyes, including a go-ahead touchdown in Ohio State's 2022 season opener against Notre Dame.
And while Johnson may be an older prospect, a team with a track record of successful Buckeyes could ensure that his potential may be maximized. The New England Patriots, a team that could have a new quarterback next fall, could use a player like Johnson that can do everything asked of him.
RB Miyan Williams undrafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Miyan Williams will likely not be the next Ohio State running back drafted. But he will get a chance to make an NFL roster.
In four seasons at Ohio State, Williams averaged 6 yards per carry and scored 20 touchdowns, 14 of which came during the 2022 season. Osteochondritis in his right knee hampered Williams' production in 2023, when he recorded 158 rushing yards on 49 carries.
He's a smaller back, standing at 5-8 1/2 and 229 pounds. He's more of a bruiser instead of a shifty pass-catching back. But a team like the Steelers, a team that took a chance on Master Teague III after the 2022 NFL draft, could try and strike gold with a back like Williams.
Top Ohio State NFL draft prospects of all time
Ohio State has had its share of success stories in the NFL draft.
Seven of the Buckeyes' 11 Pro Football Hall of Fame members were selected in the NFL draft: wide receiver Cris Carter, wide receiver/end Dante Lavelli, defensive back Dick LeBeau, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, offensive lineman Jim Parker, wide receiver Paul Warfield and linebacker Randy Gradishar, who will be inducted in 2024.
Ohio State has also seen recent success in the NFL draft, from offensive rookies of the year in Garrett Wilson and C.J. Stroud, to Nick Bosa, who was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NFL mock draft 2024: Ohio State Buckeyes prospects projections